Aspects of Brahmanical Influence On Jaina Mythology

Author(s): Shaktidhar Jha
Publisher: Bharat Bharti Bhandar

Page 74

56
Aspects of Brahmanical Infuence on the Jaina Mythology
with Purānic Hinduism the Jaina savants have laid grcat emphasis on the performance of various rites and rituals of liturgical nature They also prescribe for their lay adherents different kinds of sacraments, oralas, upavasas and offering gifts and, enjoin strict adherence to the institutions of Varnas and Aśramas Like the epics and the Brahmanical Purūnas these works also evidence great intcrcst in the co-ordinated culuvation of the four Puruşārthas, cspccially thc Triuarga, viz Dharma, Artha and Kāma 62 All these elements are lughly con. spicuous in the MP and the TSPC which are more ambitious in their plan and contents than the other works of similar nature and, rival the epics and the Puranas of the Brahmanical school both on qualitative and quantitative planes Analysis of the Jaina Définition
In addition to their qualified conformity to the ancient Brahmanıcal Pañcalahsana theory, the Jaina Puranas also offer their own definition on similar lines. This new definition, though taking into consideration some important development in the nature and scope of the Puranas, also pays due regard to the Pañcalakşana characteristics Accordingly, a Purāna is said to have contained five topics 63 These are (1) kşetra, (2) Kala, (3) Tirtha, (4) Satpuruşas (noble persons) and (5) Tadviceşfitam (their conduct)
पूजाङ्गत्व समासाद्य पवित्रत्वमुपागता. । कुण्डत्रये प्रणेतव्यास्त्रय एते महाग्नय ॥ गार्हपत्याहवनीयदक्षिणाग्निप्रसिद्धय । अस्मिन्नग्नित्रये पूजा मन्त्र. कुर्वन् द्विजोत्तम ।।
-MP 40 82-85 62 Vide Infra, chap VIII
...... 92707 95aat fag i क्षेत्र काल च तीर्थं च सत्पुसस्त द्विचेष्टितम् ।।
-AP 2 38, JHV, 1 55a पञ्चधा प्रविभक्तार्थ क्षेत्रादिप्रविभागत Thc Paumaçariya (iu 17) and the Padmacarita (111 29) cnumerate only three topics, Viz क्षेत्र, काल and Mahāpurusacarita